1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)
# 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol)

The 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 500 was the 22nd stock car race of the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 36th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 24, 1996, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Penske Racing South driver Rusty Wallace would manage to dominate a majority of the race to take his 46th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his fifth and final victory of the season. To fill out the top three, Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon and Roush Racing driver Mark Martin would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | Hooters |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller |
| 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench Service Plus |
| 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's Frosted Flakes |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Valvoline |
| 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | QVC |
| 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | Circuit City |
| 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | Spam |
| 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Lowe's |
| 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | Badcock Home Furniture |
| 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | Hayes Modems |
| 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | PrimeStar, The Family Channel |
| 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | Parts America |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | Interstate Batteries |
| 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Citgo |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | MBNA |
| 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Camel Cigarettes |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Chad Little | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | Cartoon Network, The Flintstones |
| 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | Pennzoil |
| 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Skoal |
| 37 | Jeremy Mayfield | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | Kmart, Little Caesars |
| 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodiak |
| 42 | Jim Sauter | Team SABCO | Pontiac | Coors Light |
| 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | STP |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Prodigy |
| 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | Remington Arms |
| 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | Square D, TIC Financial Systems |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | Burger King |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Quality Care Service, Ford Credit |
| 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Heilig-Meyers |
| 94 | Bill Elliott* | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | McDonald's |
| 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | Shoney's Inn |
| 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | RCA |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Exide |

*Replaced by Bobby Hillin Jr. for the race due to complications from injuries suffered at the 1996 Winston Select 500.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was split into two rounds. The first round was held on Friday, August 23, at 5:30 PM EST. Each driver would have one lap to set a time. During the first round, the top 25 drivers in the round would be guaranteed a starting spot in the race. If a driver was not able to guarantee a spot in the first round, they had the option to scrub their time from the first round and try and run a faster lap time in a second round qualifying run, held on Saturday, August 34, at 12:30 PM EST. As with the first round, each driver would have one lap to set a time. For this specific race, positions 26-34 would be decided on time, and depending on who needed it, a select amount of positions were given to cars who had not otherwise qualified but were high enough in owner's points.

Mark Martin, driving for Roush Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.368 and an average speed of 124.857 miles per hour (200.938 km/h).

Bobby Hillin Jr. was the only driver to fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.368 | 124.857 |
| 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.401 | 124.589 |
| 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.455 | 124.154 |
| 4 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.464 | 124.082 |
| 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.468 | 124.050 |
| 6 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.514 | 123.682 |
| 7 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 15.542 | 123.459 |
| 8 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.545 | 123.435 |
| 9 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.548 | 123.411 |
| 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.560 | 123.316 |
| 11 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.560 | 123.316 |
| 12 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.564 | 123.285 |
| 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 15.588 | 123.095 |
| 14 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.595 | 123.039 |
| 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 15.613 | 122.898 |
| 16 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 15.617 | 122.866 |
| 17 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.623 | 122.819 |
| 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.635 | 122.725 |
| 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.650 | 122.607 |
| 20 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.651 | 122.599 |
| 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 15.659 | 122.537 |
| 22 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 15.660 | 122.529 |
| 23 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.675 | 122.411 |
| 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 15.679 | 122.380 |
| 25 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 15.685 | 122.333 |
| 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 15.692 | 122.279 |
| 27 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.692 | 122.279 |
| 28 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.696 | 122.248 |
| 29 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 15.698 | 122.232 |
| 30 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 15.701 | 122.209 |
| 31 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.726 | 122.014 |
| 32 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 15.744 | 121.875 |
| 33 | 42 | Jim Sauter | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 15.761 | 121.744 |
| 34 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.773 | 121.651 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 35 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 36 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 37 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| 38 | 29 | Chad Little | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| Champion's Provisional |||||||
| 39 | 94 | Bill Elliott | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 40 | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | -* | -* |
| Official first round qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 500 | 353 | running | 185 | $77,090 |
| 2 | 2 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 99 | running | 175 | $54,590 |
| 3 | 1 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 9 | running | 170 | $46,490 |
| 4 | 9 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 18 | running | 165 | $32,980 |
| 5 | 3 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 155 | $37,875 |
| 6 | 6 | 21 | Michael Waltrip | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $30,865 |
| 7 | 15 | 23 | Jimmy Spencer | Travis Carter Enterprises | Ford | 500 | 21 | running | 151 | $39,240 |
| 8 | 21 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $32,440 |
| 9 | 13 | 10 | Ricky Rudd | Rudd Performance Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $32,115 |
| 10 | 35 | 43 | Bobby Hamilton | Petty Enterprises | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $35,265 |
| 11 | 20 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | Darrell Waltrip Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 | running | 130 | $28,015 |
| 12 | 28 | 16 | Ted Musgrave | Roush Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 127 | $27,715 |
| 13 | 10 | 25 | Ken Schrader | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 0 | running | 124 | $27,565 |
| 14 | 19 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 498 | 0 | running | 121 | $27,215 |
| 15 | 7 | 81 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 118 | $21,060 |
| 16 | 26 | 9 | Lake Speed | Melling Racing | Ford | 497 | 0 | running | 115 | $26,560 |
| 17 | 36 | 98 | Jeremy Mayfield | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | Ford | 496 | 0 | running | 112 | $19,410 |
| 18 | 11 | 4 | Sterling Marlin | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 109 | $32,260 |
| 19 | 16 | 75 | Morgan Shepherd | Butch Mock Motorsports | Ford | 495 | 0 | running | 106 | $19,250 |
| 20 | 17 | 8 | Hut Stricklin | Stavola Brothers Racing | Ford | 492 | 0 | running | 103 | $20,910 |
| 21 | 4 | 41 | Ricky Craven | Larry Hedrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 | running | 100 | $25,885 |
| 22 | 39 | 94 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Bill Elliott Racing | Ford | 491 | 0 | running | 97 | $25,735 |
| 23 | 38 | 29 | Chad Little | Diamond Ridge Motorsports | Chevrolet | 486 | 0 | running | 94 | $25,585 |
| 24 | 23 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 476 | 0 | running | 91 | $32,310 |
| 25 | 32 | 15 | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 473 | 0 | running | 88 | $25,565 |
| 26 | 25 | 90 | Dick Trickle | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 470 | 0 | running | 85 | $18,210 |
| 27 | 24 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 470 | 0 | running | 82 | $18,187 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | Johnny Benson Jr. (R) | Bahari Racing | Pontiac | 465 | 0 | running | 79 | $24,635 |
| 29 | 37 | 12 | Derrike Cope | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 458 | 0 | running | 76 | $22,110 |
| 30 | 27 | 95 | Gary Bradberry | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | 449 | 0 | running | 73 | $15,060 |
| 31 | 33 | 42 | Jim Sauter | Team SABCO | Pontiac | 433 | 0 | crash | 70 | $22,060 |
| 32 | 22 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Chevrolet | 408 | 0 | crash | 67 | $32,060 |
| 33 | 31 | 33 | Robert Pressley | Leo Jackson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 396 | 0 | running | 64 | $22,060 |
| 34 | 14 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 385 | 0 | running | 61 | $22,060 |
| 35 | 30 | 1 | Rick Mast | Precision Products Racing | Pontiac | 374 | 0 | crash | 58 | $22,060 |
| 36 | 8 | 28 | Ernie Irvan | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 370 | 0 | running | 55 | $30,060 |
| 37 | 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 348 | 0 | running | 52 | $15,060 |
| 38 | 34 | 37 | John Andretti | Kranefuss-Haas Racing | Ford | 340 | 0 | crash | 49 | $22,060 |
| 39 | 12 | 7 | Geoff Bodine | Geoff Bodine Racing | Ford | 206 | 0 | oil leak | 46 | $30,060 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 40 | | 77 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
